Undergraduate Degree Program
Bachelor of Arts
Voice Performance Degree
The Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance will give you mastery of three areas critical to advancing in a career as a singer or vocalist: vocal skill and craft, music business acumen, and music technology know-how. You will strengthen your vocal and performance skills by practicing technique, sight-singing, and audience engagement, all while developing a unique vocal style to establish your identity as a singer. You’ll also create a professional strategy for pursuing a variety of revenue streams, and learn the skills to record, edit, mix, and master vocal tracks.
Additionally, you’ll receive private one-on-one instruction in a weekly singing lesson with a Berklee Online instructor. The core curriculum is supported by coursework in other disciplines, such as songwriting, music production, music business, music theory, and other instruments, to strengthen your knowledge and skills in alignment with your educational and career goals.
Upon completion of the program, you will be able to:
- Use the vocal technique you have developed in a variety of musical genres, finding your unique singing voice while learning to sing healthily and sustainably
- Hone your own personal performance technique, empowering you to become a compelling singer and performer both in live, recorded, and streamed settings
- Apply a working knowledge of music theory and sight-singing to be a more effective vocalist in professional settings
- Lead a band, run professional rehearsals, providing chord charts, lead sheets, and other required materials for your supporting bands
- Develop recording technology skills specific for vocalists, including recording and mixing vocals, performing topline, and file-sharing protocols
- Identify potential revenue streams and articulate a plan to create a sustainable career as a working vocalist/singer
- Compile an expansive repertoire
- Design and execute a branded online presence including social media, website, or other elements as needed to promote themselves within the industry as a vocalist and performer
Curriculum
(120 Credits)
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Concentrate Courses (30 credits) and Private Lessons (18 Credits)
- OVOIC-100Music Theory and Sight-Singing for Vocalists
- OVOIC-130Music Career Essentials for the Professional Singer
- OVOIC-140Voice Technique 101
- OVOIC-252Popular Singing Styles: Developing Your Sound
- OVOIC-330The Art of Performing and Engaging an Audience for Singers
- OVOIC-400Vocal Production Techniques for Singers
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Complete one piano course from the following (3 credits):
- OPIAN-100Berklee Keyboard Method
- OPIAN-220Blues and Rock Keyboard Techniques
- OPIAN-230Pop/Rock Keyboard
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Complete one harmony course from the following (3 credits):
- OHARM-100Music for Beginners
- OHARM-101Music Theory 101
- OHARM-104Music Theory Fundamentals
- OHARM-105Music Application and Theory
- OHARM-110Getting Inside Harmony 1
- OHARM-201Music Theory 201: Harmony and Function
- OHARM-211Getting Inside Harmony 2
- OHARM-212Harmony 2
- OHARM-301Music Theory 301: Advanced Melody, Harmony, Rhythm
- OHARM-412Reharmonization Techniques
- OCOMP-110Music Theory and Composition 1
- OCOMP-111Music Theory and Composition 2
- OCOMP-210Music Theory and Composition 3
- OCOMP-211Music Theory and Composition 4
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Complete two ear training courses from the following (6 credits):
- OEART-115Basic Ear Training
- OEART-119Ear Training 1
- OEART-120Ear Training 2
- OEART-215Ear Training for Live Performance
- OEART-320Harmonic Ear Training: Recognizing Chord Progressions
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Private Lessons
Complete nine semesters of private voice lessons, each worth two credits (18 credits)
- OPLVC-101Private Voice Lesson Level 1
- OPLVC-102Private Voice Lesson Level 2
- OPLVC-201Private Voice Lesson Level 3
- OPLVC-202Private Voice Lesson Level 4
- OPLVC-203Private Voice Lesson Level 5
- OPLVC-301Private Voice Lesson Level 6
- OPLVC-302Private Voice Lesson Level 7
- OPLVC-401Private Voice Lesson Level 8
- OPLVC-402Private Voice Lesson Level 9
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Elective Courses (30 credits)
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Complete any three courses coded with OVOIC (9 credits).
- OVOIC-320Improvisation Techniques for Singing Pop and R&B
- OVOIC-344Jazz Singing 201
- OVOIC-245Essentials of Teaching Contemporary Voice
- OVOIC-300Vocal Styles from Around the World
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Complete any six courses, except Liberal Arts courses coded with OLART, OLSOC, or OLMSC, in your area of interest and professional development (e.g., music business, songwriting, arranging, orchestration, etc.) (18 credits).
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Choose one technology course from the following (3 Credits):
- OLMSC-101Music Production 101 or OMPRD-180Pro Tools 101 or OMPRD-221Pro Tools 110 or OMPRD-273Producing Music with Logic or OMPRD-275Producing Music with Reason or OMPRD-278Ableton Live Fundamentals or OMPRD-279Producing Music with Cubase
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Liberal Arts Courses (42 Credits) +
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Complete one Composition/Writing (OLART) course from the following (3 credits):
- OLART-111 College Writing or OLART-201 Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians or OLART-215 Creative Writing: Poetry or OLART-216 Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
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Complete one History (OLART) course from the following (3 credits):
- OLART-170 Rock History or OLART-220 History of Film Music or OLART-231 Art History of the Western European Tradition or OLART-233 Music History of the Western World 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque or OLART-234 Music History of the Western World 2: Classical, Romantic, and Modern
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Complete any four additional Arts/Humanities (OLART, OMPRD, OCDAN, OCTHR) courses from the following (12 credits):
- OLART-100 Developing Your Artistry
- OMPRD-110 Music Video Production
- OLART-111 College Writing
- OLART-160 Digital Cinematography Fundamentals
- OLART-170 Rock History
- OLART-201 Creative Writing: Literature Studies for Musicians
- OLART-205 Game Design Principles
- OLART-215 Creative Writing: Poetry
- OLART-216 Creative Writing: Finding Your Voice
- OLART-220 History of Film Music
- OLART-231 Art History of the Western European Tradition
- OLART-233 Music History of the Western World 1: Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque
- OLART-234 Music History of the Western World 2: Classical, Romantic, and Modern
- OLART-400 Career and Job Success in the Music Industry
- OMPRD-250 Music Video Editing with Final Cut Pro
- OMPRD-251 Creative Video Editing with Adobe Premiere
- OCDAN-103 Iconic Dance and Urban Movement
- OCTHR-103 Script Analysis for Theater
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Complete four Social Sciences (OLSOC) courses from the following (12 credits):
- OLSOC-150 The Language of Film and TV
- OLSOC-180 Project Management for Musicians
- OLSOC-200 Business Communications
- OLSOC-210 Music, Self, and Society
- OLSOC-226 New Media Economics: Music, Mobile, Gaming, and Online Markets
- OLSOC-307 Music Cognition
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Complete four Math and Physical/Natural Sciences (OLMSC, OMPRD, OMBUS) courses from the following (12 credits):
- OLMSC-101Music Production 101
- OLMSC-130Applied Mathematics for Musicians
- OLMSC-150Computer Programming Fundamentals
- OLMSC-215Acoustics
- OLMSC-250Music and Neuroscience
- OLMSC-260Sampling and Audio Production
- OMPRD-210Audio Fundamentals for Recording
- OMBUS-475Music Business Finance
How should I set up my schedule, based on the above requirements?
Check out this handy planning guide to help you understand which courses you should take during which semester.
View Sample SchedulePrivate Lessons
Voice majors in the Bachelor of Arts degree program complete nine levels of private voice lessons. Each level of private lessons is 12 weeks in duration and involves a weekly, one-hour, live webcam session with a faculty member of your choosing. The purpose of voice lessons is to train your voice to reach its maximum capability and to gain exposure to music across genres and time periods. These lessons provide the opportunity to expand your musical vocabulary, improve technique, and gain valuable insight into your own strengths and areas of development.
Private lesson instructors will share their practical knowledge and coach you through lesson material at a pace tailored specifically to your needs. Using an individualized approach, instructors will help prepare you to develop your voice and artistry through the use of exercises, studies, and vocal repertoire.
When / How to Enroll for Your Private Lessons
When course registration opens for the semester, you will be able to register for the appropriate private lesson course level, and then select a day, time, and instructor. Voice majors in the Bachelor of Arts degree will earn two credits for the successful completion of each level of private lessons, for a total of 18 credits.
How to Apply
- Fill out the online application (15 minutes)
- Create a 500-750 word essay, or a 3-5 minute video essay
- Prepare a recorded audition
- Attach your official transcripts
- Ask for two letters of recommendation
Read full undergraduate admissions requirement details here.
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65%
Online undergraduate degree tuition vs. campus tuition
Affordable Tuition
Online undergraduate degree tuition is $66,650 for 120 credits (includes associated fees). To get started, this degree program includes a non-refundable $75 application fee.
Read full tuition and associated program fee details for this, and all other undergraduate programs here.
Available Financial Aid
Ready to Return to Berklee or Transfer in Credits from Another Institution to Complete Your Degree?
Students transferring in from an accredited institution can carry over up to 60 credits, and students with previous Berklee experience may be able to transfer even more.
Learn about our different transfer options: